More than 200 refugees and migrants including "many" minors were due to arrive in Sicily on Tuesday after they were rescued in the Mediterranean at the weekend, Save the Children reports.
Some of the children are travelling alone, the charity said adding that many of the refugees and migrants who are now aboard its Vos Hestia vessel were "visibly distressed" when rescued.
Save the Children staff will be present when the boat docks in Sicily "and will continue to work to ensure children have access to their basic needs and rights," the charity said.
"Save the Children has provided medical care to one severely malnourished and dehydrated person as well as providing fresh water, food and blankets to everyone on board," it stated.
The Vos Hestia's passengers were picked up in two rescue operations on Sunday, the charity added.
One of the boats was a rubber dinghy that was "overcrowded and in very poor condition - with many of those on board visibly distressed," Save the Children said.
More than 600 children have drowned already this year – a rate of approximately two per day - according to the charity.
Almost 302,500 people have crossed the Mediterranean to southern Europe this year, of whom over 132,000 have arrived in Italy and over 166,600 have reached Greece, the International Organisation for Migration said on Friday.
